14.

Why is the righteous punished for the iniquity of his generation

A Synopsis
Rabbi Shimon says that the Other Side is content to control the Righteous
because then it can afford to ignore the rest of the world. For this assertion we
have the evidence of the story of Job, where the Satan’s attention to Job enabled
God to save the rest of his generation. If the righteous one is strong, and he bears
his afflictions and overcomes the accuser, he can save the whole generation –
indeed, this is how Moses became the Faithful Shepherd over Yisrael, and why he
will control them in the World to Come. Moses asks Rabbi Shimon why one
righteous person is affected while another is not, and the response is that God
does only what is necessary: if one will suffice, He only afflicts one, but if the
sins are widespread He will also afflict other righteous men. Moses talks about
three types of righteous people, all of whom become a chariot for Adam and the
patriarchs, and who acquire from them the strength to suffer and to protect the
whole generation.

The Relevance of this Passage

A wealth of wisdom and healing forces pour out of this passage. We’re told that
Job and Moses were men of titanic spiritual strength who wrestled with and
triumphed over Satan, preoccupying him in order to free their entire generation.
Our reading resurrects their fortitude and might, luring Satan back into battle
with these great spiritual warriors. The Zohar and the spirit of Job and Moses
now bear the brunt of Satan’s attack so that our entire generation is freed from
the clutches of the Other Side. These great warriors secure their final victory over
this age-old foe.
Moreover, in our meditation, we contribute to the demise of Satan, repaying the
righteous who have fought so valiantly for us throughout the ages. The righteous
souls among us here and now stop suffering on our behalf.
The final bell is rung and this cosmic conflict between life and death, good and
evil, is ended at last, with Life and Goodness victorious.
The Zohar then expounds upon the spiritual function of the body’s organs,
including the liver, the spleen, the kidneys, the heart, and the lungs, and their
relationship to sin, disease, and the patriarchs.
Disease originates in the liver, caused by the sins we commit, knowingly or
unknowingly, this life or past.
When disease strikes, there must be bloodletting from the right arm in order to
heal the entire body. Thus, here we invoke Abraham, who signifies the right arm,
to spiritually bloodlet. Our bodies are now purified of disease as we cleanse our
sins and the iniquities of our generation. Esau represents the liver and Ishmael
represents the spleen. When reading this passage, negative blockages in our liver
and spleen are purged while the destructive influences of Esau and Ishmael are
dissolved into nothingness.
Our meditation invokes the greatness of Isaac, who represents the Left Arm side
of judgment. Blood is herewith let from the left arm, generating healing and
purifying all transgressions.
Our reading summons forth the power of Jacob, who represents the body. Blood
 is herewith let from both the right and left arms, arousing well-being and
cleansing all trespasses.
Our heartfelt contemplation of these verses evoke Adam and all the patriarchs
when disease, sickness, and sin are rampant in civilization. Blood is herewith let
from the veins in the head, thus healing and regenerating the body’s organs,
bones, and blood, and cleansing this world of all of its sins, wiping out airborne
diseases and all plagues.
Finally, the healing process and the regeneration of our cells and souls are sealed
by Moses, whose name is rearranged into the Mem Hei Shin, one of the 72
Names of God, that ignites health, well-being and restoration.
All these miraculous effects are achieved on account of the holiness of this book
and the saintliness of the Patriarchs. Our acknowledgment and appreciation of
this truth magnifies the healing effect exponentially with every set of eyes that
fall upon these verses.

‫ ְולָא ָחיִישׁ‬,‫ יַתִּ יר מִכֹּלָּא‬,‫ דְּ הָא נִיחָא לֵיהּ ְלסִטְ ָרא אַח ֲָרא לְשַׁ לְּטָ אָה עַל זַכָּאָה‬,‫ִבּוּרא קַדְ מָאָה‬
ָ ‫ וְתוּ אִ תְּ מַר ְבּח‬.93
‫ דְּ ָחזָא קוּדְ שָׁ א בּ ְִריְך הוּא דְּ דָ ָרא הֲווֹ‬.‫ מֵאִ יּוֹב‬.‫ וא"ל ְמנָלָן‬,‫ הָא טוּלָא אִ זְדְּ מַן ְל ַג ַבּיְיהוּ‬,‫ אַ דְּ ָהכִי‬.‫כְּדֵ ין ְלכָל ָע ְלמָא‬
‫ הֲשַׂ מְתָּ ִלבְָּך אֶ ל ַעבְדִּ י אִ יּוֹב כִּי אֵ ין‬,‫ אָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְ שָׁ א בּ ְִריְך הוּא‬,‫ וְאָתָ א שָׂ טָ ן ְלקַטְ ְרגָא‬,‫מְחוּיָבִין ְכּ ָליָיה‬
‫ מַה‬.‫ וּ ְלמֵיבַד לֵיהּ‬,‫ וְאִ יהוּ מְתָ לָא ל ְַר ְעיָא דְּ אָתָ א זְאֵ ב ְלמִטְ ַרף עָאנֵיהּ‬.‫ לְאִ שְׁ תְּ זָבָא בֵּיהּ דָּ ָרא‬,‫ָאָרץ‬
ֶ ‫כָּמוֹהוּ ְבּכָל ה‬
‫ הַהוּא דַּ הֲווֹ מִתְ נַ ֲהגִין‬,‫ יָהִיב לֵיהּ אִ מ ְָרא תַּ קִּיפָא וּשְׁ ֵמנָה ו ְַרב ְְרבָא ִמ ֻכּלְּהוּ‬,‫ָעבֵד הַהוּא ַר ְעיָא דַּ ֲהוָה ַחכִּימָא‬
‫ בְּשַׁ עֲתָ א דַּ ֲהוָה‬,‫ מַה ָעבֵד הַהוּא ַר ְעיָא‬.‫ שָׁ בַק ְל ֻכלְּהוּ‬,‫ וּב ְִרעוּ לְשַׁ לְּטָ אָה עַל הַהוּא אִ ְמ ָרא טָ בָא‬.‫אֲ בַּתְ ֵריהּ ֻכּלְּהוּ‬
‫ וְשֵׁ זִיב לֵיהּ‬,‫ וּ ְלבָתַ ר תָּ ב לְאִ מ ְָרא‬.‫ בּ ַָרח ַר ְעיָא עִם עָאנָא וְשַׁ וֵּי לוֹן בְּאַתְ ֵריהוֹן‬,‫זְאֵ ב אִ שְׁ תָּ דַּ ל ְבּהַהוּא אִ מ ְָרא‬
.‫ִמזְּאֵ ב‬

93. Moreover, we learned in the first part of the compilation that the Other Side prefers to
have control over the righteous more than anything else, because it does not then care for
the rest of the world. While they were still discussing this, a shade came upon them, and
asked: How do we know THAT IT PREFERS TO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE RIGHTEOUS
TO CONTROL OVER THE WHOLE WORLD? We know this from Job. For the Holy One,
blessed be He, saw that generation was deserving of annihilation, and when the Satan
came to denounce, the Holy One, blessed be He, THEN said to him: “Have you
considered My servant, Job, that there is none like him on earth” (Iyov 1:8), in order to
save through him the whole generation. The matter can be likened to a shepherd when a
wolf comes to devour his flock and destroy them. Being wise, what does the shepherd
do? He gives the wolf a lamb that is stronger, fatter, and larger than the others, the leader
of the flock, and the wolf, out of his desire to have control over the lamb, forgets about
the rest of the flock. What does the shepherd do next? While the wolf is preoccupied with
that lamb, he flees with the flock and brings them to safety. Later, he returns to the lamb
and saves it from the wolf.

‫ לְשֵׁ זָבָא לְדָ ָרא‬,‫ בּ ְִרשׁוּ ְמקַטְ ְרגָא‬,‫ יָהִיב קוּדְ שָׁ א בּ ְִריְך הוּא ַלצַּדִּ יק‬,‫ ָהכִי ָעבֵיד קוּדְ שָׁ א בּ ְִריְך הוּא עִם דָּ ָרא‬.94
.‫ עַד דְּ אָמַר שַׁ ְלּ ֵחנִי‬,‫ כ"ש וכ"ש דְּ נָצַח לֵיהּ‬,‫ אִ תְּ מַר בֵּיהּ ַויֵאָבֵק אִ ישׁ עִמּוֹ‬,‫ וְאִ ם הוּא תַּ קִּיף ְכּיַעֲקֹב‬.‫ְבּגִינֵיהּ‬
‫ כ"ש מַאן דְּ נָצַח‬,‫ִיסוּרין‬
ִ ‫ דְּ אִ יהוּ תַּ קִּיף ְל ִמ ְסבַּל י‬,‫ זַכָּאָה חוּ ָלקֵיהּ דְּ הַהוּא צַדִּ יק‬,‫ ָהכִי הוּא‬,‫אָמַר טוּלָא טוּלָא‬
‫ וְקוּדְ שָׁ א בּ ְִריְך‬,‫ וְאִ תְ חֲשִׁ יב לֵיהּ כְּאִ ילּוּ הוּא שֵׁ זִיב לוֹן‬,‫ דְּ אִ יהוּ שׁוּלְטָ נוּתֵ יהּ עַל כָּל דָּ ָרא‬.‫בְּהוֹן ִל ְמקַטְ ְרגָא דִּ ילֵיהּ‬
‫ וְֹלא עוֹד‬,‫ ְל ֶמ ֱהוֵי רוֹעֶה עַל יִשְׂ ָראֵ ל‬.‫ וּ ְבגִין דָּ א זָכָה ַר ְעיָא ְמהֵי ָמנָא‬,‫הוּא ָעבֵיד לֵיהּ ַר ְעיָא ָע ַליְיהוּ בְּאַתְ ֵריהּ‬
‫ דְּ אַנְהִיג לוֹן‬,‫ ְבּגִין דְּ שֵׁ זִיב לוֹן דְּ לָא אִ תְ אֲ בִידוּ מִתַּ מָּן‬.‫אֶ לָּא דְּ ָהכִי אַ שְׁ לִיט לֵיהּ ָע ַליְיהוּ ְבּ ָע ְלמָא דְּ אָתֵ י‬
.‫ְאוֹריְיתָ א וּבְעוֹבָדִ ין טָ בִין‬
ַ ‫בּ‬
94. This is exactly what the Holy One, blessed be He, did with the generation. He offered
the righteous man for indictment in order to save the generation on his account. And if,
like Jacob, THE RIGHTEOUS MAN is strong, the verse says of him: “and there a man
wrestled with him” (Beresheet 32:25). This is even more the case when he overcomes
THE ACCUSER until he says: “Let me go” (Ibid. 27). He said: O Shade, O Shade, that is
just how it is. Happy is the portion of that righteous man who is strong in suffering
afflictions, and how much more so the one who, by means of his AFFLICTIONS, manages
to overcome his accuser who has SPREAD his control over the whole generation, and it is
accounted to him as though he had saved them, and the Holy One, blessed be He,
appoints him as shepherd over them in the place OF THE ACCUSER. This was how the
Faithful Shepherd came to be the shepherd over Yisrael, and not only that, but he will
control them in the World to Come. And this was because he saved them that they should
not be lost TO THE WORLD TO COME, for he guided them in the Torah and good deeds.

‫ָארי אַ ְסוָותָ א דַּ אֲ קִיזִין‬

ֵ ‫אוֹרח כָּל מ‬
ַ ְ‫ דּ‬.‫ וַאֲ מַאי ָלקֵי דְּ רוֹעָא יְמִינָא‬,‫ אָמַר לוֹן‬,‫ אַ דְּ ָהכִי הָא ַר ְעיָא ְמהֵי ָמנָא‬.95
‫ אָמַר לֵיהּ ְבּגִין‬.‫ אֲ מַאי לָא אֲ קִיזִין לֵיהּ‬,‫ ְוהָא דְּ רוֹעָא שְׂ מָאלָא אִ יהוּ ק ִָריב ְל ִלבָּא‬,‫ְבּקַדְ מֵיתָ א דְּ רוֹעָא יְמִינָא‬
‫ אָקִיז‬,‫ וְאִ י אִ תְ יְקַר מ ְַרעָא עַל שַׁ יְיפִין דְּ גוּפָא‬,‫ דְּ הָא ְבּהַאי ַסגֵּי‬,‫דְ קוּדְ שָׁ א בּ ְִריְך הוּא לָא ָבּעֵי לְאַ ְלקָאָה יַתִּ יר‬
.‫דְּ רוֹעָא שְׂ מָאלָא‬

95. While they were yet talking, the Faithful Shepherd himself came and said to them:
And why was the right arm afflicted? Because the way of all healers is to let blood first
from the right arm? Since the left arm is the one that is nearer the heart, why is blood not
let from it? OR, TO PUT THE QUESTION IN OTHER WORDS: WHY IS IT THAT ONE
RIGHTEOUS MAN IS AFFLICTED AND ANOTHER IS NOT? He answered: Because the Holy
One, blessed be He, does not want overly to strike, and one RIGHTEOUS MAN suffices.
But if the illness is serious and spreads throughout the parts of the body, blood is let from
the left arm ALSO, NAMELY OTHER RIGHTEOUS MEN ARE ALSO AFFLICTED.

‫ לְדָ א אִ ית מ ְַרעִין‬,‫ וְאִ ית צַדִּ יק ָהכָא‬,‫ יָאוּת אֲ בָל אִ ית צַדִּ יק ָהכָא‬,‫ אִ י לָא הֲווֹ תַּ ְרוַויְיהוּ ְבּחַד זִ ְמנָא‬,‫ א"ל‬.96
‫ ְלמֵיהַב‬,‫ דְּ אִ ינּוּן תְּ ֵרין דְּ רוֹעִין‬,‫ אִ י אִ תְ יְיקַר בֵּיהּ מ ְַרעָא יַקִּיז לְתַ ְרוַויְיהוּ‬.‫ אֲ מַאי‬.‫ וּלְדָ א אִ ית טִ יבוּ‬,‫וּ ַמכְתְּ שִׁ ין‬
‫ יַתִּ יר‬,‫ אֲ מַאי אָקִיז לִדְ רוֹעָא יְמִינָא‬,‫ וְאִ י לָא אִ תְ יְיקַר בֵּיהּ מ ְַרעָא עַל כָּל שַׁ יְיפִין‬,‫אַ ְסוָותָ א ְלכָל שַׁ יְיפִין‬
. ְ‫ אֶ לָּא א"ל אֵ ימָא אַנְתּ‬.‫מִשְּׂ מָאלָא‬

96. He said to him: If the two of them were not (afflicted) at the same time, that would be
fine, but what about the case of the two righteous men, one of whom suffers from
diseases and troubles, while the other is treated with kindness? Why is it that if the
disease, NAMELY THE SINS OF THE GENERATION, spread, blood is let from both of them,
NAMELY BOTH THE RIGHTEOUS PERSONS, who are the two arms, so that healing may be
given to all parts OF THE BODY, NAMELY THE WHOLE OF THE GENERATION. And in the
case where the illness does not become more serious, and does not spread throughout the
parts of the body, why is more blood let from the right arm than from the left? WHY IS
ONE MADE TO SUFFER AND NOT THE OTHER? He said to him: Why don’t you give the
answer?

,‫ דְּ רוֹעָא יְמִינָא‬.‫ ָל ֳקבֵל אָדָ ם קַדְ מָאָה‬,‫ ֵרישָׁ א‬.‫ אִ ינּוּן ָל ֳקבֵל אֲ ָבהָן‬,‫ וַדַּ אי גּוּפָא וּתְ ֵרין דְּ רוֹעִין‬,‫ אָמַר ֵליהּ‬.97
‫ טְ חוֹל‬.‫ ָכּבֵד לִימִינָא‬,‫ וּ ִמלְּגוֹ לְגוּפָא‬.‫ ָל ֳקבֵל יַעֲקֹב‬,‫ גּוּפָא‬.‫ ָל ֳקבֵל יִ ְצחָק‬,‫ דְּ רוֹעָא שְׂ מָאלָא‬.‫ָל ֳקבֵל אַב ְָרהָם‬
.‫ ֵריאָה ַמיִם‬.‫ ָל ֳקבֵל אַב ְָרהָם ְויִ ְצחָק‬,‫ ַכּנְפֵי ֵריאָה וְכוּ ְליָין‬.‫ בְּאֶ ְמ ָצעִיתָ א‬,‫ֲקב‬
ֹ ‫ ִלבָּא יַע‬.‫ עֵשָׂ ו ְויִשְׁ ָמעֵאל‬.‫לִשְׂ מָאלָא‬
.‫ דְּ בָשִׁ יל ז ֶַרע דְּ נָחִית מִמּוֹחָא‬,‫ כּוּ ְליָין אֶ שָּׁ א‬.‫דְּ אִ ינּוּן שׁוֹאֲ בִין כָּל מִינֵי מַשְׁ קִין‬

97. He said to him: Certainly the body and the two arms stand for the three patriarchs and
the head for Adam. The right arm corresponds to Abraham and the left arm to Isaac,
while the body represents Jacob. Within the body, the liver is on the right, the spleen to
the left, THESE BEING THE TWO KLIPOT OF Esau and Ishmael. The heart is Jacob,
between them. The lungs and kidneys represent Abraham and Isaac, the lung being water,
HINTING AT CHESED, for THE LUNG draws in all sorts of potions, while the kidneys are
fire, which cooks the seed that descends from the brain.

‫ דְּ ָכבֵד‬,‫ וּמ ָָרה‬,‫ שַׁ וֵּי ז ְַרעֵיהּ ְבּגָלוּתָ א דֶּ אֱ דוֹם וּ ְבגִין דָּ א ָכּבֵד לִימִינָא דְּ אַב ְָרהָם‬,‫ וּ ְבגִין דְּ אַב ְָרהָם אִ יהוּ ַמיִם‬.98
‫ וְאִ י חוֹבִין מִתְ ַרבִּין ִבּבְנוֹי דְּ אַב ְָרהָם דְּ אִ ינּוּן‬.‫ אִ תְּ מַר בָּהּ וְאַח ֲִריתָ הּ מ ָָרה ַכ ַלּ ֲענָה‬,‫ אִ יהִי מ ָָרה‬,‫ח ֶֶרב דִּ ילֵיהּ‬
,‫ דְּ רוֹעָא יְמִינָא צ ִָריְך לְאַ ְלקָאָה לְאָ ָקזָא דָּ מֵיהּ ִמנֵּיהּ‬,‫ אִ תְ יְקַר בֵּיהּ מ ְָרע ָע ַליְיהוּ ִמסִּטְ ָרא דְּ ָכבֵד‬,‫ְבּגָלוּתָ א דֶּ אֱ דוֹם‬
.‫ דְּ ָענִי חָשׁוּב ַכּמֵּת‬,‫ וְאִ שְׁ תְּ אַר ָענִי‬,‫ כְּאִ ילּוּ שְׁ פִיכוּ דָּ מֵיהּ‬,‫דְּ מַאן דְּ נַטְ לִין ִמנֵּיהּ מָמוֹנֵיהּ‬

98. And since Abraham is water, NAMELY CHESED, IF, THEREFORE, HIS OFFSPRING
IMPAIRS CHESED, He places his offspring in the exile of Edom, WHICH IS THE WASTE
MATTER OF GVURAH FROM THE LEFT, AND THERE THEY RECEIVE THEIR
PUNISHMENT: BECAUSE OF THEM BEING THE OPPOSITE OF THEIR NATURE. This is
why the liver and the gall that is in the liver are to the right of Abraham, NAMELY TO THE
RIGHT OF THE BODY, his sword, NAMELY MALCHUT OF THE KLIPAH OF ESAU being
the gall (Heb. marah). About this it is said: “But her end is bitter (Heb. marah) as
wormwood” (Mishlei 5:4). And if the sins increase among the children of Abraham,
NAMELY AMONG THOSE WHO EXTEND FROM THE SIDE OF CHESED, who are placed in
the exile of Edom, and the disease spreads over them from the side of the liver, they have
to be smitten and blood has to be let from the right arm, NAMELY FROM THOSE
RIGHTEOUS WHO COME FROM THE SIDE OF CHESED, AND NOT FROM THOSE OF THE
SIDE OF GVURAH, FOR THE BLEMISH IS IN THOSE OF THE SIDE OF CHESED. And
‘whoever has his money taken is as though his blood was spilled’, for he remains poor,
and a poor man is considered as dead.

‫ בֵּי מ ְַרעֵיהּ יִתְ יְקַר ִמסִּטְ ָרא דִּ טְ חוֹל‬,‫ דְּ אִ ינּוּן ְבּגָלוּתָ א בֵּין יִשְׁ ָמעֵאל‬,‫ וְאִ י חוֹבִין מִתְ ַרבִּין ִמסִּטְ ָרא דִּ ְבנֵי יִ ְצחָק‬.99
.‫ ְולָא יַתִּ יר‬,‫ ְוצ ִָריְך לְאָ ָקזָא דְּ רוֹעָא שְׂ מָאלָא‬,‫לִשְׂ מָאלָא‬

99. But if the sins increase among the children of Isaac, NAMELY THOSE WHO DESCEND
FROM HIM IMPAIR THE QUALITY OF GVURAH, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF ISAAC, they
are THEN put into exile among Ishmael, WHO ARE THE KLIPAH OF THE RIGHT, WHICH
IS THE OPPOSITE OF THE NATURE OF THE CHILDREN OF ISAAC, IN ORDER TO
INCREASE THEIR PUNISHMENT. The disease spreads from the side of the spleen, which
is to the left OF THE BODY AND CONTROLS THE CHILDREN OF ISAAC WHO IMPAIRED
THE NATURE OF THE LEFT. And blood has THEREFORE to be let from the left arm, THAT
IS TO SAY, FROM THOSE RIGHTEOUS WHO COME FROM THE SIDE OF GVURAH, and
not from any others. THIS IS BECAUSE THE IMPAIRED HERE ARE THOSE WHO COME
NOT FROM ABRAHAM, THE RIGHT ARM, BUT FROM ISAAC, THE LEFT ARM.

,‫ דְּ אִ ינּוּן מְפוּז ִָרים ִבּ ְבנֵי עֵשָׂ ו ְויִשְׁ ָמעֵאל‬,‫ דְּ אִ ינּוּן אֲ חִידָ ן לִתְ ֵרין סִטְ ִרין‬,‫ וְאִ י חוֹבִין מִתְ ַרבִּין ִבּ ְבנֵי יַעֲקֹב‬.100
‫ הָא מ ְַרעָא ָסלִיק‬.‫ וְאִ י ֻכּלְּהוּ תְּ לַת ְבּמ ְַרעִין ַכּחֲדָ א‬.‫ וּ ָבעֵי לְאָ ָקזָא ב' דְּ רוֹעִין‬,‫הָא מ ְַרעָא אִ תְ יְקַר עַל גּוּפָא‬
‫ וּבְהוֹן אִ תְ תְּ קָפוּ‬,‫ וְאִ לֵּין תְּ לַת אִ תְ ָעבֵידוּ מ ְֶר ָכּבָה לְאָדָ ם קַדְ מָאָה ְולַאֲ ָבהָן‬,‫ וּ ָבעֵי לְאָ ָקזָא ו ְִרידִ ין דְּ ֵרישָׁ א‬,‫ל ְֵרישָׁ א‬
.‫ְאַרבַּע סִטְ ֵרי דְּ ָע ְלמָא‬
ְ ‫ לְאַ ָגּנָא עַל דָּ ָרא ל‬,‫ִיסוּרין‬
ִ ‫ְל ִמ ְסבַּל י‬

100. And if sins increase amongst the children of Jacob, NAMELY THOSE WHO DESCEND
FROM HIM IMPAIR HIS NATURE, WHICH INCLUDES BOTH SIDES, CHESED AND
GVURAH, who are scattered IN EXILE among the children of Esau and Ishmael, NAMELY
IN THE KLIPOT OF THE RIGHT AND OF THE LEFT, then the disease spreads over the
body, WHICH IS THE ASPECT OF JACOB, and blood has to be let from both arms. But if
all three of them, NAMELY THOSE DRAWN FROM JACOB, FROM ISAAC, AND FROM
ABRAHAM, are diseased together, NAMELY ALL OF THEM HAVE BLEMISHED THEIR OWN
ROOTS, the disease then rises to the head, and blood has to be let from the veins that are
in the head. And these three TYPES OF RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE, THOSE DESCENDED FROM
ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB, became a Chariot for Adam and the patriarchs, and
acquire from them strength to suffer torments and protect the generation throughout the
four winds of the world.

‫ דְּ לֵית אַ ְפ ָרשׁוּתָ א בֵּין‬,‫ וְאִ לֵּין צַדִּ י ַקיָּיא דְּ בֵינַיְיהוּ‬,‫ דְּ ג ְַרמִין דְּ יִלְקוּן אֲ ָבהָן וְאָדָ ם קַדְ מָאָה‬,‫ וַוי לֵיהּ לְדָ ָרא‬.101
.‫ מָטֵ י לַאֲ ָבהָן וְאָדָ ם‬,‫ וְדוֹ ֲחקָא ְו ַצע ֲָרא וִיגוֹנָא דִּ ְלהוֹן‬,‫ דְּ אִ ינּוּן נִשְׁ מָתִ ין דִּ לְהוֹן‬,‫ לַאֲ ָבהָן וְאָדָ ם‬,‫אִ לֵּין צַדִּ י ַקיָּא‬
‫ הָא יַמָּא נָטִ יל מִן ָעכִירוּ‬,‫ֲכוּרין וּמְלוּ ְכ ָלכִין ְליַמָּא‬
ִ ‫ אִ י חוֹז ְִרין ע‬,‫ אִ לֵּין נַ ֲחלִין דְּ נָ ְפקִין מִתַּ מָּן‬,‫ְכּ ַגוְונָא דְּ יַמָּא‬
‫ וְאִ שְׁ תְּ אָרוּ‬,‫ וּז ְִריקַת לֵיהּ ְלבַר‬,‫ לָא ְסבִילַת ִלכְלוּכָא דִּ לְהוֹן‬,‫ וּ ְבחֵילָא דְּ יַמָּא דְּ אִ יהִי תַּ קִּיפָא‬.‫ְו ִלכְלוּכָא דִּ לְהוֹן‬
.‫נַ ֲחלִין ְצלִילִין וְדַ ְכיָין ֵמהַהוּא ִלכְלוְּך‬
101. Woe to that generation that causes the patriarchs and Adam to be struck, and the
righteous men amongst them as well, for there is no difference between the righteous OF
A GENERATION and the patriarchs and Adam. This is because those RIGHTEOUS are their
souls DRAWN FROM THEM and their distress, pain, and anguish reach to the patriarchs
and Adam. It is like the sea when a number of rivers flow out of it and return to it, impure
and dirty, and the sea receives their impurity and dirt. And because of the sea’s strength,
for it is strong, it does not hold their dirt, but throws it out, and the rivers remain clear and
pure, without that dirt.

‫ ָהכִי אֲ ָבהָן מְדַ כְּאִ ין חוֹבִין ְו ִלכְלוּכִין דִּ ְבנַיְיהוּ‬,‫ִירין‬

ִ ‫ דְּ דָ כִיאָת ִלכְלוּכִין דִּ ְבנָהָא זְע‬,‫ ְכּ ַגוְונָא דְּ אִ ימָא‬.102
‫ ְבּהַהוּא זִ ְמנָא לֵית‬.‫ִיסוּרין עַל דָּ ֵריהוֹן‬
ִ ‫ תַּ קִּיפִין ְל ִמ ְסבַּל י‬,‫ כַּד אִ שְׁ תְּ כָחוּ בְּהוֹן צַדִּ י ַקיָּיא בְּעוֹבָדֵ יהוֹן‬,‫דְּ יִשְׂ ָראֵ ל‬
‫ דְ קוּדְ שָׁ א בּ ְִריְך הוּא וּשְׁ כִינְתֵּ יהּ ַמלִּיל‬,‫ וְאָמְרוּ לֵיהּ סִינַ"י סִינַ"י‬,‫ אָתוּ ֻכּלְּהוּ וּב ִָריכוּ לֵיהּ‬.‫אַפ ְְרשָׁ א בְּהוֹן‬
‫ לְאַנְה ָָרא‬,‫ִבּוּרא קַדְ מָאָה דָּ א בְָּך‬
ָ ‫ דְּ זָכֵינָא ְל ַחדְּ שָׁ א ח‬,‫ זַכָּאָה חוּ ָל ָקנָא‬.‫ מַאן יָכִיל ְל ַקיְּימָא ַקמֵּיהּ בְּכֹלָּא‬,‫בְּפוּמוֹי‬
.‫שְׁ כִינְתָּ א ְבּגָלוּתָ א‬

102. It can also be likened to a mother who cleans the dirt from her small children. In
such a manner the patriarchs cleanse the sins and the dirt from their children, Yisrael,
when there are among them people of righteous deeds who are strong enough to suffer
torments for the sake of the generation. At that time there is no difference between them
AND THE PATRIARCHS, FOR THEY CLEANSE THE SINS OF THE GENERATION LIKE THE
PATRIARCHS. They all came and blessed him, THE FAITHFUL SHEPHERD, and said to
him: Sinai, Sinai, through whose mouth the Holy One, blessed be He, and His Shechinah
speak, who is able to confront him in any MATTER? Happy is our portion that we have
merited to revise and refresh new matters in this first part of the compilation through you,
to illuminate the Shechinah in exile.

,‫ דְּ נָהִיר ָח ְכמָתֵ יהּ ְבּכָל דָּ ִרין דַּ הֲווֹ אֲ בַּתְ ֵריהּ‬,‫ כ"ש בּוּצִינָא קַדִּ ישָׁ א‬,‫ ַר ָבּנָן דְּ כָל דָּ ָרא ֲהוִיתוּ ִבּזְ ַמנֵּיהוֹן‬,‫ אָמַר לוֹן‬.103
‫ עַד יֵע ֶָרה ָעלֵינוּ רוּ ַח קֻדְ שָׁ א דְּ הָא לָא אִית ְרשׁוּ לְאִשְׁ תַּ מְּשָׁ א‬,‫ְאוֹריְיתָ א‬
ַ ‫אַל תִּ תְּ נוּ דֳּ מִי לְקוּדְ שָׁ א בּ ְִריְך הוּא בּ‬
.‫ דְּאַתְ וָון דִּילֵיהּ ְרמִיזִין בִּשְׁ מְָך‬,‫ִבּמְטַטְרוֹ"ן שַׂ ר ַה ָפּנִים אֶ לָּא לְָך‬
103. He said to them: Sages of all generations during whose time you, have been OR
WILL BE, and how much more so the Holy Luminary, THAT IS, RABBI SHIMON, whose
wisdom will shine in all the generations that come after him: do not give the Holy One,
blessed be He, quiet in the Torah until the Holy Spirit is poured out on us. (THERE
APPEARS TO BE AN OMISSION IN THE TEXT HERE). For none but you may use Metatron
the great prince, since your name is intimated in the initials of his, FOR THE INITIAL
LETTERS OF THE WORDS METATRON THE GREAT PRINCE ARE MEM SHIN HEI, WHICH
SPELL MOSES.